Airship

She did fly over Cornwall, and there is a more well known picture of her flying over Land s End - I have a few notes on that, somewhere on the PC, my cousin s father had seen it. I believe she actually flew over the north of Penzance en route. Or was that Graf Zeppelin? I will see what I can find for you....

First point. The tail fins have marking panels (Swastikas), which is just what Hindenburg had. Graf Zeppelin did not, besides she had her name on the nose.

Date 1936 ... Hindenburg 804 feet long, launched April 1936, crossed the Atlantic 10 times in 1936, she was designed for helium, but various supply issues meant that she was filled with hydrogen. She cruised at 78 miles per hour. She carried over a thousand passengers safely to NY, until 6th May 1937, in all she had carried 2,656 passengers to New York and to Rio Janiero, but on the first trip of 1937, a sightseeing stop was allowed over New York, later they were landing at Lakehust and, as they were hitching, something drastically went wrong, and she burst into flames; A miracle allowed 62 people to survive out of the 97 passengers and crew.

I remember one flying over Penzance back in the 30 s

My uncle spoke of the flight that passed over the top of Causewayhead. Someone spoke of the flight that passed over Land s End, some years ago, that is why I made enquiries then, still have the file. 1936, no doubt. I should add that Graf Zeppelin was smaller and thinner, a quite different shape; also she did not make a route which would have carried her over Cornwall in the 1930s. They were known as Zeppelins as that was their design and manufature.

May as well add that one of the reasons quoted for the demise of the airship, is the danger of using hydrogen, and quoting the loss of The Hindenburg in 1937; the truth of the matter was that she had a coating of a material somewhat akin to solid modern rocket fuel, to give her the shining appearance to match the Reich; she had been flying through bad weather before landing, and had absorbed quite a static charge. As soon as the ropes were dropped to allow her to be taken to her mooring, it discharged, and set the casing alight. Hydrogen took alight afterwards. Proving the disaster of having all outward show, and also proving that the economies of not paying for the helium was a mistake. Economies never really work.

Wow. Thankyou treeve. I have not got back to you earlier as I have just got back from work (parents evening). As I mentioned I was loaned this photo with very little information other than stated. I will relay this on to the owner.

You are welcome - there is a book on the zeppelins, I believe, now. I assembled the information that I have by writing to a number of people years ago. Hindenburg mostly flew the Channel, but some of her flights carried her over Land s End and on over The Lizard. Graf Zeppelin made a couple of flights to the US after she was built but before 1930. I have converted the image to a monochrome and by simple enhancement, I can see the horizon of the sea, and there is a cargo coaster in the centre of picture. Not at all sure just what the large building could be, the scan is not clear enough to make out much more than blotchy detail.
Either way, that is a rare picture, as I doubt there were more than 8 or so over-flights, and the chances of anyone gaining sight who had a camera ready would have been remote. I have seen two other pictures, one over Sennen and the other over Land s End.